Unofficial Picture: 2013 Porsche 911

The 2012 Porsche 911 – codenamed 991 – isn’t slated to make its debut until next month at the Frankfurt Motor Show. However, a set of photos has leaked online that look to be pretty official and show the next 911 in all its un-camouflaged glory.

Leaked a month before the car’s actual debut, these photos — which appear to be the official Porsche-commissioned press shots — clearly show that the 991’s design is a very evolutionary take on the current-gen 997’s look. LED running lights above the lower air ducts return, as do the timeless circular headlamps, althoughthe latter are now slightly more flush with the fenders.Trapezoidal lower air intakes ducts help to draw in cooling air along the bottom of the front fascia, and there seems to be a larger opening for the front trunk.

In profile, it is clear that the 991 has been stretched – it’s been known that the car has grown 2 inches in length – with a longer rear quarter window and what appear to be lengthy overhangs. Out back, the taillights have shrunken and continue to be full-LED affairs. The new retractable rear spoiler takes up a large chunk of the real estate above the bumper cut-line (which itself aligns with the top of the taillights), and a wider hood for the engine compartment can be seen too.

The interior draws straight from the Panamera’s playbook, and incorporates a sloping center console, a navigation screen placed low in the dash, and buttons galore. In true 911 fashion, there is a large center-mounted tachometer flanked by four additional gauges.

Though images have surfaced at this time, technical specifications have not. Expect to see power come from either a 3.4-liter flat-six in the Carrera that is good for 350 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque – the red car in the photos. The Carrera S should pack a 400-hp 3.8-liter flat-six that churns out 325 lb-ft of torque. Transmission options will both come in seven speeds, be it for Porsche’s dual-clutch PDK, which gains an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, or a traditional manual transmission.

We have yet to get final confirmation from Porsche that these are, indeed, shots of the final car, but they seem pretty close to the test mules that we have spotted in the past. Expect more photos and details on the all-new 2012 Porsche 911 to emerge in the next few weeks.